Bill 486.

Summary.

The bill would create the Agroindustrial and Bioeconomic Center of Panamá Oeste Province (Centro Agroindustrial y Bioeconómico de la Provincia de Panamá Oeste) to promote agricultural processing, reduce postharvest losses, make use of organic waste and develop renewable energy. It defines terms concerning agroindustry, bioeconomy, cooperatives, composting, biodigestion, fiscal oversight and digital services. The Center would be attached to the Ministry of Agricultural Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario). The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), acting through that ministry, would select a site within Panamá Oeste, giving priority to productive agricultural areas with logistics potential.

The Center’s functions would include processing, packaging and marketing products; innovation projects with the Panamanian Autonomous Cooperative Institute (Instituto Panameño Autónomo Cooperativo) and the Directorate of Agroindustries (Dirección de Agroindustrias); waste management; agritourism; environmental education; and research with the University of Panama (Universidad de Panamá). Its operations would be coordinated annually with the National Agroindustrial Plan. The Directorate of Agroindustries would issue guidelines and oversee processing and quality services. An executive director would legally represent the Center and manage its activities. The Governing Board (Consejo Directivo) would appoint the director through a public competition for a nonrenewable five-year term, subject to education and experience requirements. The director would prepare the budget, report annually to the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional), pursue partnerships and exports, and report performance indicators quarterly. The bill lists grounds for removal by a reasoned decision.

The Governing Board would set policy and approve plans, budgets, organizational structure, internal rules, agreements and reports. Its membership would include representatives of ministries, public bodies, universities, the relevant mayor’s office and producer organizations; the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República) could attend as an observer. It would meet in ordinary session at least every two months. The text sets rules for meetings, quorum, voting, substitutes and members’ liability. The Center would receive budget appropriations, international cooperation funds, public-private partnership resources and income from services and rentals. Partnerships would require Board approval and the Comptroller’s endorsement.

The proposed facilities include a processing plant, a collection and cold-storage center, biodigestion and composting plants, a basic laboratory and a community education area. Testing could use existing laboratories of the Ministry of Agricultural Development or the Gorgas Memorial Institute (Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas). The facilities could be developed in phases. Biogas derived particularly from pig manure would serve internal electricity and heat needs, sanitary treatment, biofertilizer production and services for third parties. Electricity generation would follow sector rules overseen by the National Public Services Authority (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos). The Ministry of Environment (Ministerio de Ambiente) and the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) would provide assistance alongside the agricultural ministry. Agreements with local pig producers would be promoted. The composting plant would process plant waste and agroindustrial byproducts for distribution, educational programs or sale. The Center would provide training and implement sorting at source, separate collection, recycling and municipal coordination for remaining waste.

The Agroindustrial and Commercial One-Stop Office (Ventanilla Única Agroindustrial y Comercial) would guide procedures for production, certification, marketing and exports, with a connection to the Integrated Procedures System of the Panamanian Food Agency (Agencia Panameña de Alimentos). It would serve producers, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, businesses, and rural women’s and youth associations. Its staff and institutional contacts would include, among others, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias), the National Customs Authority (Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas), the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Authority (Autoridad de la Micro, Pequeña y Mediana Empresa), the Panama Tourism Authority (Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá) and the National Bank of Panama (Banco Nacional de Panamá). It would offer guidance, assistance and links to financing through in-person and digital channels, while sanitary authorizations would remain with the competent authorities. An operating manual would set procedures, response times and data safeguards; participating agencies would prioritize digital interoperability.

The incentives would cover activities connected with the Center for up to five years per registered beneficiary. Applicants would need formal registration, compliance with environmental, health and labor rules, and an investment and employment plan. The bill provides for preferential access to facilities, technical support and training, potential financial incentives and, subject to a favorable opinion from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas), customs and tax benefits. It bars combining benefits for the same expense or investment and prohibits specified abusive practices. The Board would evaluate the scheme after three years; new applicants could join for ten years. The Executive Branch could adjust incentives by executive decree under the stated conditions.

The Comptroller General would oversee the Center’s income, spending and assets; internal controls, audits, quarterly reports and a public annual report would also be required. The bill provides for public participation and official liability for misuse of resources. Phased establishment, Board appointments and the director’s selection process would have a deadline of up to twelve months after promulgation; implementing regulations would have the same deadline. The Center could adopt supplementary technical instruments through its Board. The law would take effect one year after promulgation. Its provisions concern agricultural, environmental, health, commercial and municipal authorities, as well as producers, cooperatives, processors, waste operators, energy businesses and communities in Panamá Oeste.